A bit late to the convo, but my last IPA was extremely juicy. So juicy it tasted like it had a blend of fruit juices added. I've never brewed this exact recipe before, so I can't identify a specific game changer.

I used US-05. A lot of people say they get a peach note from this strain. Maybe that contributed.

I did not write down the exact hops I used for dry hopping, but I'm pretty sure it was:1.5 Amarillo1.5 Cascade1.0 Centennial

A simple grain bill is definitely best for the type of IPA you're going for (and the type that I prefer).

I had gotten lazy for a while with respect to hop schedule. I've been just doing 60 min, 7 min and hop stand additions. Going back to 10 and 5 min late additions combined with a hop stand involving some pretty fruity hops may have been a difference maker. I've also become a big believer in letting the hops free float during the boil (no hop spiders, baskets or bags). I get better overall hop utilization that way.

After quite a bit of personal experimentation since early 2014 and a discussion with Steve Dressler at Boulevardia last year, I am now convinced that post-fermentation pH is one of the most important and most overlooked IPA metrics. You really want to be under 4.6. Any higher and the hops become very muddled and boring. If you can go even lower, you'll get even better hop expression. This beer was 4.40.

I also believe in free floating hops. I've tried hop bags and haven't been able to get enough surface contact. I have to put a big filter around my dip tube though, and even still get some clogs if I use too many pellets. I've switched to whole leaf for most of my hops now due to this issue.

Interesting note on the ph. I've never measured my ph past the mash stage. I don't know where any of my finished beers have ended up at.

Funny...only a few years ago these were the new, hyped, somewhat hard-to-get hops. IMO some of the "classics" are still some of the best hops...including Cascade. Azacca and Mosaic are pretty amazing from the new varieties. I'm rarely a fan of Citra. I like the way they smell, but not the flavor (usually).

flip wrote:I have to put a big filter around my dip tube though, and even still get some clogs if I use too many pellets. I've switched to whole leaf for most of my hops now due to this issue.

I've found free floating hops to be a huge PITA--especially with pellets. I use a plate chiller, so I have to filter them out somehow. I've tried a bunch of solutions and have yet to find one that works perfectly. Worth the PITA for a hoppy beer, though.

I've used 95% whole hops since I started brewing, so that has helped. I really want to switch to pellets though, for storage space efficiency and better overall availability. I need a good filtration solution first.

I built a large hop taco (See here if you're unfamiliar: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9261&d=1232115387 ) that spans the bottom of my brew kettle, with 2 pieces of stainless steel mesh and tied them together with stainless steel wire, and that's clamped around my dip tube. The large surface area allows there to be enough gaps between hops to let the wort flow through. The mesh is even fine enough that it mostly works with pellet hops. But I can't do it with IPAs/APAs just because of the sheer amount of hop and break material that cakes it up. Whole cone hops mostly work though. I still have issues occasionally. I've decided I should probably figure out a second filter solution if I want to use pellets again, like a false bottom, in addition to the hop taco.

I've tried that too. It's collecting dust now. Even with a small amount of whole hops, it would clog pretty easily due to break material.

I've also tried the 8 5/8" version of this with different mesh densities. Even with the larger mesh, the holes would clog with solids and affect hop utilization. My original one was just a basket (no spider) and it would actually dance around in the boil and splash wort over the side of the kettle. Collecting dust.

Lately I've been using a stainless steel toilet braid, like a lot of people use in their mash tuns. Still, clogging problems.

It seems like every thing I try works well for a couple batches, then I have clogging problems--even after thorough cleanings.

I've also been thinking a two stage solution might be the answer. Haven't put much thought into it yet, though.

Got mine done. It did not go as planned. First yeast quit on me. Second pitch took off like a rocket but i had to leave town... the temp got out of the peachy conan range during that time sadly. Force carbed late feb early march. It was not great.. i assume the failed yeast caused issues. Fast forward to last weeknd... tastes great. Smooth double ipa. Not what it was intended but it finally tastes pretty good.